LA Chambers, Ausspann Plaza, Dr Agostinho Neto Rd, Windhoek, Namibia
Private Bag 12007, Ausspannplatz, Namibia
Tel: + 264-61-379 700 - Fax: + 264-61-379 701 - E-Mail: info@lorentzangula.com
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LorentzAngula Incorporated, as the name suggests, is founded on the traditions of Lorentz & Bone, a firm established in 1919. As Hosea Angula became a partner of that firm already before Independence, the stakeholders of the new firm thought it only appropriate to reflect the determination to present the new practice as a thoroughly Namibian firm by adding his name to this new firm, which we have every intention of establishing as Namibia's largest and leading law practice.
LorentzAngula Incorporated opened its doors on 1 March 2006 in both Windhoek and Oshakati and the ranks of directors have grown to include Hosea Angula, Hartmut Ruppel, Elize Ndjavera Angula, Wolf Wohlers, Mike Böttger Charles Visser, Ruben Philander, Andreas Potgieter, Beatrix Greyvenstein, Saima Nambinga and Stefanie Hoffmann. Also with our team are our associates, Neil Lakay, Taimi Ndalulilwa and Ray Rukoro.
It is the policy of LA Inc. to support and accelerate the process of our professional staff joining the ranks of members and shareholders in the company within the shortest possible time, not only in order to permit them to take up a real and immediate stake in the performance and destiny of the company, but also, and as importantly, to broaden the demographic base and representation of Namibians in the ownership structure of LA Inc.
The stakeholders of LA Inc. appreciate and are sensitive to the challenges of Namibian businesses to align themselves to a post-colonial Namibia and, in this regard, more specifically, to encourage persons who prior to our Independence have systematically been excluded from participating in the mainstream economy, to join and to meaningfully contribute and participate in professional businesses.
In line with its vision as a truly Namibian law firm, LA Inc. has established a branch office in Oshakati, which is connected via leased line to the Windhoek office. In addition to our Oshakati-based director and staff, in-house capacity to fly attorneys to this office enables Windhoek-based attorneys to serve clients in Northern Namibia.
We have further made very substantial investments in order to ensure a modern and dedicated resource infrastructure to serve our clients. To that end, we are occupying the first to third floors of LA Chambers situate in Ausspann Plaza, Ausspannplatz, one of the most modern and best-equipped office complexes in Windhoek. Electronic infrastructure and software licensing are fully managed under service level agreement by Business Connexion Namibia (Pty) Ltd, which services include secure daily back-up data as well as off-site storage thereof. Permanent internet connectivity via leased line and a dedicated e-mail server ensure reliable electronic communication. Disbursement recovery software by Dynatrac (Pty) Ltd, integrated file management, accounting software via LegalSuiteTM, conveyancing software by LegalperfecT Software Solutions (Pty) Ltd and Lawyers Access Web (L@W) as well as legal research software by Juta and Butterworths provide us with the most modern electronic resources and solutions available to the legal profession today. In addition both the Windhoek and Oshakati offices are equipped with archiving and strong room facilities for the storage and preservation of important documents.
LA Inc.'s banking needs are currently facilitated by both Standard Bank Namibia and First National Bank of Namibia. As regards professional indemnity insurance, cover to the tune of N$20 000 000.00 has been arranged by Alexander Forbes Risk Services in addition to misappropriation cover of N$3 000 000.00.
Legal services are offered over a wide spectrum, and the firm is essentially comprised of four departments, namely the following:
Commercial and Corporate
Commercial and corporate work lies at the heart of LA Inc. Various Directors have built a reputation for sound commercial and corporate legal advice, as well as for advice relating to national and international financing transactions.
The commercial department places emphasis on corporate- and company-, mining-, building- and construction law, and intellectual property law. Three Directors man this department and are supported by practitioners employed by LA Inc. as professional assistants, candidate legal practitioners and specialised secretarial and other support staff.
Our Directors have been involved in the commercialisation of former government departments. They have also been involved in international financing projects, mergers and acquisitions, listings of companies on the Namibian Stock Exchange and facilitating the establishment in this country of the legal framework for several international corporations and joint ventures, particularly in the financial services-, telecommunications- and mining sectors.
Conveyancing
The LA Inc. conveyancing team, consisting of three conveyancers attends to all transactions requiring registration at the Deeds Registry, such as the registration and transfer of immovable property, the registration of mortgage bonds over immovable and movable property, and the registration of real rights in immovable property, such as servitudes. The conveyancers also attend to the registration of notarial bonds over movable property and the drafting, execution and registration of other notarial deeds.
Fees are determined by the prescribed tariff for conveyancing in immovable property published in various Government Gazettes as well as the tariff guidelines prescribed by the Law Society of Namibia.
Litigation
This department essentially attends to the representation of clients in court. It is comprised of a High Court and Supreme Court, Magistrates' Court and Labour Court division and also undertakes a limited component of criminal matters. Litigation matters are attended to by five of the Directors assisted by two professional assistants.
Labour
Two attorneys are in charge of this department. Here the emphasis lies with industrial relationships and employment laws. We act mainly for employers, who consist of major mining companies, parastatal companies, banks and companies involved in general trading and manufacturing, as well as in the fishing industry. We advise our clients on issues relating to wage negotiations between our clients and their employees, as well as retrenchment and business reorganisation. We are currently a preferred service provider for First National Bank in respect of labour matters.
Collections
The department deals mainly with collections of other commercial entities and is specialised in Magistrates and High Court practice. This department employs a full-time debt collector with more than ten years' experience, backed by the litigation infrastructure. A full spectrum of services are offered encompassing inter alia drafting letters of demand, issuing summons, Section 65 procedures and emolument attachment orders. With the recent instructions by the Rundu Town Council to act on their behalf in collection matters, more emphasis has been placed on this department.
General Practice
Both the Litigation and Commercial Departments deal with other matters of a general nature, including the drafting of commercial and other agreements, wills, administration of estates, notarial work and corporate, banking and financial transactions, and matters relating to aviation.
Matrimonial and family matters, as well as insurance claims arising as the result of motor vehicle accidents also comprise a part of this practice. These last-mentioned matters usually involve litigation, and are therefore dealt with in the appropriate department. Our criminal law practice has always been limited, and usually such cases are referred to experienced advocates at the local Bar.
Our Oshakati office focuses on general practice, encompassing most of the aforesaid services and it is strengthened by the internal support structure which allows the referral of certain instructions to the Windhoek office to ensure that the capacity of the entire firm is available to clients serviced by our Oshakati office.
Some of the Directors serve as directors of local corporations, insurance companies, parastatals and non-governmental organisations, and others act as trustees on behalf of charitable or business trusts. Hosea Angula serve at the High Court as Acting Judges from time to time.
In accordance with legal ethics it is our policy to offer legal representation at the request of any person or institution, provided that there are no compelling reasons for declining so to act in a specific instance or generally.
We believe that it is only by rendering satisfactory service to a client that we can expect a loyal client base, and this in turn is our best recommendation and ensures future growth.